The people of South Africa have spoken and their president has listened.
Pres. Cyril Ramaphosa did (despite economists’ fears and to the delight of South Africans) declare an additional public holiday on Monday evening. However, the holiday will not come as soon after the Springboks’ World Cup victory as South Africans had hoped.
“In celebration of the Springboks’ great achievement and the achievements of all our other sportsmen and women – and as a tribute to the determination of our united nation – I declare Friday 15 December 2023 as a public holiday.
“We declare this as a day of hope, a day of celebration and unity.
“Our sportsmen and women have shown us what is possible.”
The holiday will take place after the matric final exam.
“I know many of us wish we had a holiday now to celebrate. But we must all agree that we must give our matriculants time to focus on their exams and then celebrate,” Ramaphosa explained.
Ramaphosa further asked that South Africans support the Proteas as enthusiastically during the World Cup cricket tournament as the Springboks.
“I want us all to embark on a period of celebration that culminates in a festive holiday after our matriculants have completed their exams and the Proteas have made the country proud at their World Cup tournament.”
However, Ramaphosa could not seem to let the opportunity pass without reminding South Africans of all the “progress” that the ANC government has made in the past 30 years.
Before the announcement, he made a long speech about, among other things, economic growth, as well as the fight against crime and load shedding under the ANC government.
Dr. Pieter Groenewald, leader of the FF Plus, was quick to react to the speech.
“Please keep politics out of sports,” said the FF Plus leader. “The Goats unite precisely because politics has nothing to do with it. You leave a bitter taste.”
He then accuses the president of abusing the Springboks and sport as a whole for ANC election propaganda.
“I know that many of us want us to have a holiday now to celebrate. But we should all agree that we should give our matriculants time to focus on their exams and celebrate afterwards. In celebration of the Springboks’ momentous achievement and the achievements of all our other… pic.twitter.com/hO13DupL91
— Presidency | South Africa ???????? (@PresidencyZA) October 30, 2023
